Rangers are a crucial part in world’s nature conservation and a cornerstone of Protected Areas functioning, who often put their life at risk to safeguard the continuity of our natural resources.

On July 31st, World Ranger Day is celebrated internationally to commemorate Rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and to celebrate the work Rangers do to protect the planet’s natural treasures and cultural heritage.

From EUROPARC, like every year, we want to join this cause and give thanks to those persons and institution that organise dedicated events in the memory of the Rangers, and we encourage you to commemorate this day.

EUROPARC stands with the World’s Rangers!

Ranger Roll of Honour 2020

How can I support the World Rangers Day?

Any action, from a small mention to a dedicated event, will help promoting the World Rangers Day. From EUROPARC, we encourage you to do any of the following:

• Acknowledge their work:

Rangers carry out a very important labour for nature conservation all over the world. You can acknowledge their work on any event you organise during this day, such as meetings, webinars, workshops, educational programmes and so on.

Honour the rangers deceased in their line of duty. The International Ranger Federation makes available to download the “Roll of Honour 2020”, a comprehensive list of all the Rangers that have died in the line of duty during this year, and the “2009-2020 Roll of Honour Map”.

• Raise Funds:

You can support your local rangers by providing them economic support to better carry their work, buy necessary equipment or safeguard them. Furthermore, economic support for the families of the fallen rangers will always be appreciated.

• Publish content:

You can commemorate this day through your social media channels or any other communication mean with the moto “I/We Stand With The World’s Rangers’, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #WorldRangerDay.

• Go creative!:

From organising games to thematic activities around the World Rangers Day such as drawing exhibitions, treasure hunts and so on, the posibilities are unlimited. You can photograph or record and share your events with the world in this special day. What about publishing a video with support messages to the Rangers? Here you can find some inspiration in a video message by Dr Jane Goodall for the World Rangers Day 2017.

Promotional Items

You can download a set of promotional materials in different languages to help promoting the World Rangers Day from the he International Ranger Federation website, or by clicking on the links below:

English

French

Spanish

EUROPARC webinar in Spanish “Los bosques Mediterráneos en la encrucijada del Cambio Climático”

• 23rd of June 2020
• 11:30h CEST
• Register here

Next tuesday June 23rd, we will host the #EUROPARCwebinar “Mediterranean forests in the crossroads of Climate Change” in Spanish language. In this event we will learn more about the characteristics of Mediterranean forests, why they are especially vulnerable to #climatechange effects and what management measures can improve their #climatechangeadaptation . Participation is free, previous registration needed.

El próximo 23 de Junio celebraremos el webinario “Los bosques Mediterráneos en la encrucijada del Cambio Climático”. En este evento aprenderemos acerca de las características de los #bosques Mediterráneo que los hace especialmente vulnerables a los efectos del #cambioclimatico y sobre medidas de gestión que pueden mejorar su #adaptacion al dicho cambio. La participación es gratuita e inscripción previa es necesaria.

Congratulations! Star Awards 2019 winner “Innovation”

“For Play” is the EUROPARC Star Awards 2019 winner in the category of “Innovation”. This category is a special recognition for its exceptional creativity and foresight. They are pioneers in transition to Sustainable Tourism in Coastal dunes Natural and Regional Park, Italy. 

The blue of the sea, the red of the land and the green for innovation

For Play is a young company that allows visitors to explore the region of Coastal dunes Natural and Regional Park, based on the principle of sustainable mobility. Using a fleet of colourful and snappy electric cars, they set a new way of circulating in the region.

Sustainable, funny and affordable. The best way to bring out the richness of the country.

Electric vehicles produce zero emission and zero noise, being in total respect with the environment. The little cars are the ideal way to move, slowly and safely, throughout the maze of narrow streets bordered by stone walls of Ostuni and the ups and downs of Itria Valley.

Besides, the cars and the itineraries provided allow the visitors to spread and discover new places and assets that are not normally visited. This benefits both tourists and locals:

• It offers an alternative to the traditional beach-tourism, they can appreciate nature and traditional practices in a respectful way,
• The project makes available historical sites, such as private areas, unreachable by other means, thus, presenting new realities of the territory
• Deseasonalisation of tourist flow and decongesting the beaches during the summer peak
• It promotes the possibilities and importance of Sustainable Tourism and mobility
• Enhance the local development through promotion and collaboration with local businesses
• Provide an alternative for reduced-mobility collectives to discover the region

Itineraries with awareness

On your own or with a qualified guide, For play shows visitors the cultural, historical and natural wonders of the territory. The itineraries range from tours through vineyards and olive trees to natural or culinary journeys. In this way, they promote local producers, farmers, and businesses. Creating a strong network that stimulates the growth and development of small communities, is also respectful towards the environment.

For Play owners. Photo: For Play

The activities are supported and complemented with explanations and instructions on how to behave when in natural habitats, their peculiarities, and threats.

This has attracted residents and locals, that also use the services. With their engagement, a network of charging points has been developed to facilitate mobility and reassure users as they travel.

A growing network

Beyond businesses and producers, For play also collaborates with schools to engage the youth in the understanding of carbon-reduction. Scientists and events sensitize the society about respecting the territory. And the Park operators themselves use the cars when needed.

An online public voting is now running, to select one winner out of the five awarded, who will be invited to present their business at EUROPARC Conference 2020. VOTE NOW!

Congratulations! Star Awards 2019 winner “Communicating the Values of my Park and my Business”

“Hotel Caminetto” is the EUROPARC Star Awards 2019 winner in the category of “Communicating the Values of my Park and my Business“. Their communication efforts reflect their commitment to sustainability and account for a big contribution to Adamello Brenta Natural Park (Italy). In this category. EUROPARC has evaluated the consistency and dedication to sustainability, and the ways of engaging the visitors to value and enjoy the area.

The hotel that educates its customers in sustainability

The communication policy of Hotel Caminetto aims to make the guests fully aware of the place, culture, and nature that host it, and hence, to value it. For instance, they constitute the model of being a sustainable hotel committed to respecting the environment and protecting natural resources without giving up comfort. Thanks to that, it has been awarded several labels that recognize its environmental quality.

Sustainable lifestyle tought in the hotel can encourage the visitors to continue it once at home.

Photo: Hotel Caminetto

Hotel Caminetto allows guests to experience a real sustainable holiday, by informing and encouraging them to perform certain actions and practices in and out of the facilities. This includes information about waste management, energy consumption, sustainable mobility and appropriate behaviour during walks to see flora and fauna.

With the support of well-trained staff, they offer a sustainable experience by changing the towels only on request or renting and providing material such as backpacks or reusable bottles to prevent littering. In the kitchen, the hotel supports local economy throughout the use of local food products and their promotion to other stakeholders.

The environment as a host and protagonist

An essential part of its communication policy is the promotion of activities in Adamello Brenta Natural Park. Those activities are aligned and contribute to the Park’s labour, such as the guided tours provided only by guides certified by the Park. The visitors that are attracted by the traditional ski season, have the opportunity to understand other alternatives for tourism that is more respectful towards the environment, and with less seasonality.

Thanks to the “Parco Card“, that is free of charge and funded by the Hotel, the visitors are encouraged to discover the natural heritage. The Card allows them to attend guided excursions, access the Park Houses, and gives them free use of shuttle buses and discounts in many local and traditional businesses. The guests that are committed to sustainable mobility and use the card for public transport instead of the car even receive a discount.

A history of commitment

Photo: Hotel Caminetto

For more than 14 years, Hotel Caminetto has been committed to applying an environmental culture that they believe in. They are nowadays ambassadors and safeguards of natural heritage and encourage the rest of the community throughout articles or meetings.

They are strongly involved with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism, proving to the rest of the business community that sustainable tourism is a durable and exemplary alternative for snow and ski tourism.

An online public voting is now running, to select one winner out of the five awarded, who will be invited to present their business at EUROPARC Conference 2020. VOTE NOW!